The US president has expressed 'optimism' about a peace treaty which leads to an independent Palestinian state prior to his leaving office.

George W Bush's remarks which he passed after meeting with the Jordanian King Abdullah II appeared to have been made with a nonchalant attitude towards the recent Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Bush declined to admit that the Israeli violence was a setback saying "this is a process that, you know, always has two steps forward and one step back."

He insisted that his version of an integrated Palestine outweighed that of Hamas, as he alleged that Hamas's vision "has been nothing more than violence and deprivation."

The past week has witnessed martyrdom of more than 125 Palestinians, including many civilians and at least 17 children during the Israeli military operation in the coastal region.

HN/DT